Bezzecchi Blasts to a New Lap Record, Dominates Day 1 at Phillip Island
Marco Bezzecchi put the MotoGP field on notice at the Australian Grand Prix, smashing the existing lap record with a blistering 1:26.492 to take top honours on Day 1 at Phillip Island. The Italian rider’s performance was nothing short of dominant, showcasing both confidence and control in tricky, wind-swept conditions around the fast coastal circuit.
The opening practice sessions saw plenty of drama and shifting momentum. Francesco Bagnaia endured a difficult start, visibly frustrated as he returned to the pits before swapping bikes to find comfort and rhythm. Eventually, he clawed his way back into the top ten, but the reigning World Champion was left searching for answers as others improved around him.
Bezzecchi had been among the early pace-setters before being briefly eclipsed by Fabio Di Giannantonio, who set a 1:27.483 with around 37 minutes remaining. The VR46 rider quickly hit back, first lowering the benchmark to 1:27.099 before igniting the timing screens with a sensational 1:26.580. Not content with that, Bezzecchi went even faster on his final flyer — a record-breaking 1:26.492, extending his advantage to over four-tenths of a second.
Raul Fernández ensured Aprilia’s strong presence by taking second place, just ahead of Di Giannantonio, who finished the day as the fastest Ducati. Fabio Quartararo impressed on the Yamaha, claiming fourth after a string of consistent laps. Álex Márquez slotted into fifth between the two Yamahas, while Álex Rins, Luca Marini, and Pol Espargaró completed the top eight.
Bagnaia managed to salvage ninth place with a late surge, while Pedro Acosta rounded out the top ten, narrowly edging out Fermín Aldeguer by just five-thousandths of a second to secure automatic passage to Q2. Aldeguer, fresh off his breakthrough win in Indonesia, will now have to fight his way through Q1 despite showing impressive pace throughout the day.
Bezzecchi’s record-breaking lap has set the tone for a fierce qualifying battle ahead. Aprilia’s strong showing hints at growing momentum, while Ducati’s factory squad faces a critical test to respond. With conditions expected to shift again tomorrow, Saturday’s sessions promise even more fireworks as the grid hunts for pole position at one of MotoGP’s most thrilling circuits.